Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has ordered the cancellation of fuel allowances for all political appointees, as part of a broader strategy to curb public spending and reallocate resources to critical sectors. This directive, announced on Tuesday by his spokesperson, targets cabinet ministers and heads of government agencies appointed by the president.
“The president believes that those in leadership must also share in the sacrifices being asked of citizens,” said presidential aide Felix Ofosu.
Since taking office in January, President Mahama has been focused on reviving Ghana’s struggling economy—once buoyed by gold and cocoa exports—which recently experienced one of its most severe downturns in years. His electoral campaign centered around a promise to “reset” the country’s economic direction.
In support of that goal, the government has already taken several austerity steps, including cutting down the number of ministries from 30 to 23 and eliminating satellite TV services at the Presidency and other government offices.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently acknowledged Ghana’s progress in implementing economic reforms and restructuring its national debt, noting improvements since the Mahama administration took office six months ago.
